Floor or platform structure



Jan. 11 1927. 1,614,296

A. J. HALL,

FLOOR OR PLATFORM STRUCTURE Filed DSO. 4. 1924 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 1 1, 192.7.A

tiene UNITED STATES elses .'T. HALL, oF CLEVELAND, onto.

i rL'oon on'eLATronn STRUCTURE.

panama-med necesitar 4, 1924. semina. 753,814.

Y My invention relatos to floor structures generally and to stair platform structures particularly.

One of the objects of my invention is to 5 reduce the cost of production of lioors and platforms. v

Another object is to reduce the weight of floors and platforms. Another object is to provide a floor or platform which requires no bolts or rivets .to connect the members thereof. v

Another object is to form the metal floor with corrugations to stiien this metal floor itself and by these corrugations form a mold 1&5 for'ribs on the bottom of the poured ioor,

. thereby also stiifening this poured floor.

. Another object is to construct the metal parts of a floor or platform so that the entire structure can be assembled in the shop and moved to the field and readily put int-o nositionwith a minimum amount of fieldwork. `Another object is to secure a platformto a supporting post in such a manner that the 26 platform can be shifted in relation to this post when the platform is installed.

. Another object is to construct the metal floor in sections the sides of which do not touch each other and' thereby not only elim- 30l inate. close fitting of these sections but also eliminate the cost of handling large sheets of metal and reduce'the size and the costl of the dies for forming the floor.

e Another object is to construct'the middle v as well as the end sections of asectional floor in` duplicate` thereby .reducing the cost of dies as well as permitting quantity production of these sections.

Another object is to construct .the metal 40 floor ofv duplicate middle 'and end sections so that any number of these middle sections can be inserted to form any; desired length ot' Hoor without change of dies.l

Plat-forms, for stairs and the as floors generally are extensively used and the cost thereof should he reduced .joa minimum to benefit the public generally. The mescnt invention aims to reduce to a minimum the cost of production of floors and 5o platforms as well as the cost of installation thereof. y

One embodiment of my invention isV illustrated in the accompanying drawing as applied to a platform in .which drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a platform embodying the features ofjmyinvention and like, as well showing two stairs in dot indd-ash lines as related to the platform and also showin?l the frame structure and the joints thereof andthe floor and the connections thereof to the platform. f

Fig. 2 is a section, taken on a vertical plane indicated by the line 2-2 in Fig. l',

showing the corrugated floor more clearly 'and the connection thereof to the end beams.

Fig. 3, is a section, taken on a vertical showing more clearly the corrugated floor. and. the connections thereof to" the longitud inalbeams and the structure of the front plane indicated 'by the line 3-3 in Fig. l, v

form to the post to permit the platform i.

to be shifted in relation to the post.

Fig. 5 is a sectional. view of a portion of a door, similar to Fig.v 2, showing a vmodifica-- tion of the corrugations ofthe floor.

so; I.

Similar reference characters refer to simip I lar arts throughout the views.y

`'I 1e structureshown in the accompanying drawing comprises,- principally, the frame A, the metal iioor B, the' poured floor C, and the supporting post D. i

- The frame A is composed of `two longitur` dinal beams 10 and 11 and two end beams 12 and 13. The beam 10 is the rear longitudinal beam while the beam 1-1 is the front longitudinal beam. Each of the beams 12 and 13 jis formed of 'channel section and the ends 14 thereof pro# ject bevond the longitudinal beam 10 to form an anchor in a wall.- Thewebs of these endv beams are provided' with rectangular open 1 ings 15 for the beam l0 as will appear presently. The frontend of these lend beams is rovided with the lugs 16. to engage the eam 11 as will .appear presently.

The' longitudinal beam 10 is formed of channel section and each end of the web thereof is provided with the rectangular lugs 17 which pass'through the respective of thev openings 15 in the webs of thel end. beams and are bent against the outside of these webs, thereby firmly securing the beam 10 to the end beams. The web of the beam 10 is provided with the rectangularV openings-118 foil. the metal oor B as will appear presen y. f

noA

The loiiigitudiual beam 11 (front beam) is composed of the L shaped member 1S) and the channel shaped member 20. The member 19 comprises the vertical leg 21 having the inwardly extending flange 22 and the horizontal leg 23 having the upwardly extending tiange 24. This formation stiifens the member 19 considerably and requires the least amount of material, thereby reducing the weight of the platform. The vertical leg 21 is provided with the rectangular openings 25 and the lugs 16 of the end beams pass throl'igh these openings 25 and are bent against the inner surface of the leg 21, thereby firmly securing the end beams to the front beam 11. This leg 21 is also provided with the rectangular openings 2G for the metal floor B as will appear presently.

, The lower flange 27 of the channel member 20 rests on the leg 23 and is secured thereto by the cleat bolts 28. The lower portion of the web of the member 20 abuts the Hange 24. In order to further stiffen the structure of the beam 1l, the carriers 29 have the toe 3() thereof secured to the leg 21 by the cleat bolts 31 and have the end 32 resting on the top of the member 20. These carriers 29 take some of the load off of the bolts 28 and transmit it to the top of the member 20.

The structure of the end and longitudinal beams so far described comprises a substantial frame of sufficient stiffness and of minimum weight.

The member 2O may, conveniently, support the stringers Gr of the stairs E and I".

In structural work, where most of the punching and shearing is done in the shop and the erecting is done in the field, it is always found that considerable fitting is required when the parts are assembled in the field due to building or' other conditions. In stair and platform structures, the supporting post is, usually, anchored in the ground or in a concrete floor vand can not be located exactly in relation to the walls in which other portions of the platform are anchored; therefore, a fixed joint between the post and the platform, made in the shop, very seldom lits when it is attempted to inu stall it in the building. In the present invention, all parts of the platform and all joints thereof can be prepared in the shop and brought into the field and assembled without any fitting and can beconnected to the post readily because the platform can be moved in relation to the post and brought into desired position andl secured to the post by merely tightening the clip hereafter described.

In the joint between the platform and the post, shown in Fig. 4, the member 20 passes through the opening 33 and the flange 27 thereof rests on the material of the post D. The clip 34 engages the front of the member 2O and extends back to the Wall 35 of the post and secured thereto by the cleat bolts 36, thereby holding the web of the member 2O securely against the Wall 37 of the o )ening 33. The wall 37 prevents the plat orni from moving forward and the clip 34 prevents it from moving backward. The openings 38 are provided in the postfor the purpose of inserting a Wrench to tighten the nuts von the bolts 36. v y

As to operation of the joint last described z-After the post D is fixed in-position, the clip 34 is placed `into the post and is loosely held therein by the bolts 36, the platform is then installed in relation to the walls surrounding the' platform, and bolts 36 are then tightened'up to lock the platform to the post; this arrangement permits the platform to be installed in relation to the walls around the platform and secured to the post Vin Whatever position the post may beffound.

The metal Hoor B comprises the middle sections-39, the end sections 40, and the coverplates 41. These sections and plates-extend longitudinally between the beams 1() and l1 and are placed side by side to fill the space l between the beams 12` and .13. A

All of the middle sections 39 are dupli Cates and each is 'formed with the upper horizontal portion 42, the vertical portion- 43, and the lower horizontal portions 44.

The ends 45 and 46 of each horizontaliportion 42 extend over and "rest on the upper flanges of the longitudinal beams land 11 respectively. v

One end of each portion 43 is' provided with the lug 47 extending through the respective opening 18 in the beam- 10 and is' bent against the webl thereof. The other end of each portion 43 is provided with the lug 48 extending through the respectivev opening 25 inthe ,leg 21 of the beam 11 andv i is bent against the leg 21. 4

One end of each portion 44- is provided with the lug 49 extending through the respective opening 18 in the beam l() and is bent against the .web thereof. 'lhe other end of each portion 44 is 'providedf with the lug 50 extending through the respective opening 25 in the leg 21 Vof the beam ll'and is bent against the leg 2-1.

vBoth end sections 40am duplicates and each is formed with-the upper horizontal portion 51 resting on the uppertlauges of the beams 12 and 13, and with the vertical portion 52, and with the lower .horizontal` portion 53. I

One end of each portion 53 is provided with the lug 54 extendingthrough the respective opening 18 in the beam 10 and is bent against the web thereof. -The other., end of each portionl 53 is provided with the lug 55 extendinfr through the respective opening 25 in the'leg 21 of the beam 11 and is bent. against this leg i iso One end of each plate 41 is provided with.

the lug 56 extending througlithe respective opening 18 in the beam l0 and is bent against the web thereof. 'The other end of each plate 4l'is provided with the lug 57extend ing through'the respective opening 25 in the leg' 21 of the beam ll and is bent against this leg.

lt is olrxcrved that this floor structure not only materially helps to stiti'en the traine structure but also provides a very stiff floor due to the corriigationsformed by the formation of the` sections. 'Ihis formation ofthe floor requires no lcrossbeams or other stiiiening or supporting means because the floor itself is sufficiently stit to carry the load usually applied to platforms.

This Hoor structure eliminates considerable material formerly found necessary for a safe platform and also reduces the numv ber of parts in a platform. This reduction v'ifi (lll of material and reduction in the number or'. parts reduces the cost of material as Weil as the cost of production of the parts and also reduces the cost of assembling the part-s since fewer parts are used; thereby reducing the cost of the platform.

Platforms of the character described are, usually, covered with a .poured Hoor Cv such as concrete which is, usually, poured oii top of the metal floor.

When the floor C is poured onto the metal floor li, some of the poured material fills the upper furrows 58 of the floor B and. thereby forms transverse ribs, on the bott om of the floor C whichstitien the same. Vlien the Hoor C is so poured, some of the poured material also lls the hollow of the beam 11 and thereby forn'is a longitudinal rib on the bottom of the door 'C which also stifens the same.

In the floor structure shown and de scribed, the fioor C needs not be as heavy as a Hoor which has no ribs on the bottom; therefore, the present invention not. only reduces the cost of the nietal parts of the platform but also reduces the cost of the poured floor material and thereby reduces the cost of the platform still more.

I prefer to use cleat bolts with the nuts toward the inside so that the nuts are covered by the poured material and so that no one can tamper with the joints by turning the bolts from the outside. The main por'- tion of the platform requires no bolts or rivets, but some bolts are necesa-:ar where the platform is attached to something connectcd with the platform.

Instead of disposing the vertical portions 43 and 52 at right anglesto the horizontal portions 42 and 5l as so far vshown and described, it may be desirable in. many instances to form the vertical portions 59 taper as shown in Fig.l 5. This arrangement provides a stiEei' floor C since' tiieribs 60 have a .better mechanical proportion for strength. The bending of the plates` -to form the metal floor sections is alto faczilitated by this taper formation of the vertical portions of the floor B.

I ain aware that modifications other thanv l those pointed 'out may be made within the scope ot' .the appended claims; therefore,

wi'tiout limiting myself to the precise const'ruction and'arrangeiiient of elements shown and described and pointed out,

I claim z- 1. A structure of the character described,`

having, a 'frame having. openings through' some of the parts thereof, a plurality of floor sections primarily resting unsecuredly on said frame and spaced apart, each of said sections having lugs on the ends thereof and exteridingg` through some of said openings and bent against said frame, alcoverplateprimarily resting unsecuredly on theadjaa` cent of Saidsections vand bridging the' space between adjacent sections, and each of said plates hav-ing lugs on the .ends thereof alidxthdina through some of Sata apen.; 'ings illldbent against saidframe, i

2. A structure of the character described, comprising, a frame. .having openings through certain parts thereof, and a floorl sirported onsaid frame,said floor having' in ividual metal floor sections spaced apart,

each of'. said sections comprising aistra-iglithorizontal portion and depending portions and a horizontal flange on each of the depending portions, each ot' said vstraiza'lithorizontal portions projecting beyond the endsv of said depending portions and resting 0n fsaid frame, each of said depending vportions having` lugs extending through certa-in of said openings and' bent against said frame,

and a cover plate resting on said horizontal.

anges .of .the adjacent of saidoor sections and bridging the space between the adjacent of said tioor sections.

3. In a structure of the character. 'des' scribed, the combination of, a metal frame havingl openings throughcertain. parts of i the-members thereof, and aldoor supported onsaid frame, lugs on certain of'said 'meme bers and extending through certa-in of said openings land bent against said frame, said floor having individual metal Hoor sections nel" spaced apart, each of said sections comprising a straight horizontal portionv and rie-- pending ortioiis and 'a horizontal flange on each of t e depending portions, .each of said straight .portions projecting beyond the ends of said depending portions and resting on said frame, each of said dependingportions having lugs ivaxtenelinfgf through certain of said openings and bent against said frame and a cover plate resting on said horizontal flanges of the adjacent of the floor sections and bridging the space between the adjacent of the fioor sections.

4- A structure of the character described, having, a frame, a plurality of floor sections resting on said frame and spaced apart a cover plate resting unsecuredly on the si( es of adjacent. of said sections and bridging the space between adjacent sections, and Saul frame and said sections and said plates associated without being rigidly connected together.

5. A structure of the character described,- having, a frame, a plurality of Hoor sections associated with said frame and spaced apart on said frame, each of said sections having feet resting unsecuredly on said frame, each of said L beam, a plurality of carriers haV-' ing one end thereof secured to said L beam and the other end thereof resting on said channel beam, a metal floor supported on said frame and one side thereof secnred to said L beam, and a lpoured floor on said metal Hoor and extending into said hollow beam to formA a stitening rib' for the poured door.

7. A structure otV the character `described comprisinga frame composed of beams, at' least one of `said beams being hollow. and comprising an L member provided with stiii- Y ening ianges on the endv of each legthereof, a channel member secured to the horizontal leg of said L member, a plurality of carriers having' one end thereof secured to saidA Ly member and the other end thereof resting on said channel member, a metal door co1nposed -of individual corrugated sections spaced apart, one portion of each ofsaid sections supported on s aid L member, other portions ot' each of said sections supported on other members of said trame, a cover-i plate bridging thespace between the adjacent of said sections, and a poured floor on seid metal floor and extending intovsaid hollow beam and into the corrugations of the metal lHoor totorm stifening ribs for the f poured floor.

'anos HAL-L; 

